Synonyms of self-ruling

self-ruling

adjective

ˌself-ˈrü-liŋ 

1

as in democratic

of, relating to, or favoring political democracy

having rid itself of the yoke of colonialism, the new nation chose to be a self-ruling state

Synonyms & Similar Words

• democratic
• republican
• self-governing
• popular
• representative
• libertarian
• nontotalitarian

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• undemocratic
• autocratic
• monarchical
• tyrannical
• nondemocratic
• despotic
• dictatorial
• monarchal

2

as in independent

not being under the rule or control of another

was granted special status as a self-ruling province

Synonyms & Similar Words

• independent
• autonomous
• sovereign
• separate
• self-governing
• self-governed
• democratic
• freestanding
• free
• liberated
• freeborn
• emancipated
• empowered
• manumitted
• released
• redeemed
• freed
• delivered
• republican
• enfranchised
• unconquered
• unsupervised
• unruled

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dependent
• subject
• unfree
• nonautonomous
• bound
• subjugated
• conquered
• non-self-governing
• enslaved
• captive
• subdued
• subordinate
• fettered
• subservient
• inferior

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of self-ruling

But the real change might be in East Asia, where Kim’s belligerence and rising fears regarding China’s designs on self-ruling Taiwan had already reenergized the nuclear debate. — Charlie Campbell, Time, 28 Mar. 2026

Like Assad before him, Sharaa now faces complex negotiations toward bringing these self-ruling territories under his command. — Tom O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025

In recent years, Beijing has ramped up economic, diplomatic and military pressure on Taiwan – a self-ruling democracy the Chinese Communist Party claims as its own despite having never governed it. — Eric Cheung, CNN, 13 Mar. 2023

In a meeting earlier with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, Raisi expressed support for China's crackdown on democracy in Hong Kong and claim to self-ruling democratic Taiwan. — Bradford Betz, Fox News, 17 Feb. 2023